What is the GDC?

The General Dental Council (GDC) is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing dental professionals in the UK. Its core purpose is twofold: to protect patients, and to protect the standards and reputation of the dental profession as a whole.

What the GDC does

• Grants dental professionals the right to practise, and can revoke this right if a professional fails to meet the required standards.
• Sets and maintains the standards of quality and care expected across the profession.
• Oversees dental education and training, ensuring that qualifications and courses meet the required standard.
• Handles complaints raised by patients or other members of the dental team, ensuring accountability within the profession.

The 9 GDC principles

The GDC sets out nine core principles that all registered dental professionals are expected to follow:

1. Put patients’ interests first
2. Communicate effectively with patients
3. Obtain valid consent
4. Maintain and protect patients’ information
5. Have a clear and effective complaints procedure
6. Work with colleagues in a way that is in patients’ best interests
7. Maintain, develop, and work within your professional knowledge and skills
8. Raise concerns if patients are at risk
9. Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession

Why this matters for your interview

It isn’t enough to simply recite the GDC’s role and principles — you should make it clear to the interviewer that you understand why these standards exist, and that you’re committed to upholding them yourself as a future dental professional. Framing your answer this way shows genuine engagement with professional responsibility, rather than rote memorisation.

Suggested structure for this question

• Define what the GDC is — the regulatory body for dental professionals in the UK.
• Outline its key roles, covering patient protection, professional standards, education oversight, and complaints handling.
• Talk through the 9 GDC principles, explaining why adhering to them matters both for patient safety and for maintaining trust in the profession.
• Close by affirming your own commitment to upholding these standards throughout your career.